Achillea plant named ‘Balvinolet’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Achillea  plant named ‘Balvinolet’, characterized by its purple-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Achillea millefolium.

Variety denomination: ‘Balvinolet’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant botanically known as Achillea millefolium and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balvinolet’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during June 2010. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Achillea cultivars having attractive flower coloration and a growth habit suitable for container plantings.

The new Achillea cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Achillea millefolium breeding selection coded 104-2, not patented, characterized by its dark pink-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from is unknown, but likely one of 8 proprietary Achillea millefolium breeding selections coded 104-1 and 104-3 through 104-9, not patented, characterized by their shades of red-colored inflorescences, medium to greyed-green colored foliage, moderately vigorous to vigorous growth vigor, and upright growth habits. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during July 2011 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since July 2011 in Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balvinolet’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant:

-   -   1. Purple-colored inflorescences;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in inflorescence color and in having a more compact growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the possible male parents primarily in inflorescence color.

Of the many commercially available Achillea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Purple Beauty’, not patented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Purple Beauty’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact, as measured by         plant height, than plants of ‘Purple Beauty’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more branches than plants of         ‘Purple Beauty’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balvinolet’. The plants were grown in 1.5 gallon containers for 10 weeks outdoors in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balvinolet’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balvinolet’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in July 2013 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. After transplant, the plants were grown in 1.5 gallon containers for 10 weeks outdoors in West Chicago, Ill. utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch prior to transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 50° F. to 70° F. (10.0° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 50° F. (1.7° C. to 10.0° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Achillea millefolium cultivar Balvinolet. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Achillea millefolium breeding             selection coded 104-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown, but likely one of 8 proprietary             Achillea millefolium breeding selections coded 104-1 and             104-3 through 104-9, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 4 weeks.         -   Root description.—Thick fibrous, white to light brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 14 weeks from a rooted             cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 44.0 cm. Width: Approximately 34.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 15.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length to base of cyme:             Approximately 35.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 2.6 cm. Texture:             Tomentose. Color of young and mature stems: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: Faint. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Narrow             oblanceolate. Margin: Very finely dissected giving a             fern-like appearance. Apex: Acute. Base: Sessile, truncate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 9.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: 2.2 cm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color of             upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137B with midvein             of 147C. Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage:             138A with midvein of 147C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balvinolet’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from late spring through summer.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 10 to 14 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Rotate composite inflorescence             form; inflorescences arranged in terminal or axillary             compound cymes; cymes somewhat flat-topped; freely             flowering; persistent. Aspect: Upward and outward. Quantity             per plant: Approximately 15. Cyme diameter: Approximately             8.7 cm. Cyme depth: Approximately 5.5 cm. Inflorescence             diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm. Inflorescence depth:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Fragrance: Slight.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture: Tomentose. Color: 146B.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: 146D and petals of N78A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 4             to 5. Arrangement: In a single whorl. Aspect: Rotate. Shape:             Orbicular on a narrow tube enclosing pistil. Margin: Entire.             Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Length: Blade portion             approximately 3.0 mm, tube portion approximately 3.0 mm.             Width: Blade portion approximately 3.0 mm, tube portion             approximately 0.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous.             Color of upper surface when first open: N78A. Color of lower             surface when first and fully open: 155D. Color of upper             surface when fully open: N78B to N78C transitioning to N78D             with senescence. Color of tube portion: 145B.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 14.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:             Tubular. Margin: Entire. Apex: Five- acute tips. Base:             Fused. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at apex:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color when first and fully open:             tips of 155D with a faint overlay of N78D, center of 145B,             and base of 145D.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Depth: Approximately             1.0 mm.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Color: 144A.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 12.             Arrangement: In multiple whorls. Shape: Lanceolate to             narrowly elliptic. Margin: Entire with papery edges. Apex:             Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 2.0 to 4.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 1.5 to 2.0 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Color of upper surface: 146B. Color of lower             surface: 146D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5. Stamen length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Anther color: 1D. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen             color: NN155D. Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets.             Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately             4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma length: Less than             1.0 mm. Stigma color: NN155D, translucent. Style length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: 145D, translucent. Ovary             length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Achillea has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Achillea plant named ‘Balvinolet’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 